Expo Neighbors Environmental Group

Friends of Expo Rail are no friends to EXPO Neighbors

Aug 21, 2001

The MTA Board approved a rail line in our community without involving anyone in the community that this very project impacts.
NO meeting in the Crenshaw community was held and very little outreach was done even for the Public Hearing at West Angeles Church on May 9th 2001. All meetings and distribution of information was done in the Wilshire and the west Los Angeles area.
The draft environmental impact study/report already plans to bypass USC with a tunnel option and bypass the Cheviot Hills homes but NOT Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw residences.

The EXPO Neighbors Association organized in April of 1993 because of MTA's neglect of the right-of -way. At that time our group wanted to plant drought tolerant flowers to discourage illegal dumping and improve property values but we were personally told by MTA officials that "Community based projects have a tendency to fizzle-out" and "Flowers catch trash." MTA officials also told me that "We rather fence in the ROW and sell parking spaces."

This long-standing mindset by MTA raises serious concerns about the intentional discriminatory tactics of MTA by deliberately excluding minority communities from the planning process. This violation of due process constitutes civil rights violations and MTA has and obligation to allow for full participation of ALL the homeowners and residences that will be impacted by this project. A plan to change the route in Cheviot Hills through the influence of the MTA chair, is an illegal, self-serving conflict of interest. The Westside Group did'ntt want it in their backyard, but felt we deserve it in our front yard?

The Westside (Friends of Expo Rail) filled the MTA Board room to influence the final vote by MTA. Where were You?